TUA’s work fighting home rule was mentioned in the Breeze Courier Online.
CHICAGO — Officials in five suburban-Chicago villages, Barrington, Lake Zurich, Lynwood, Crestwood, and Matteson, have placed referenda on the November 4, 2014 ballot for voters to approve Home Rule status for these villages. According to Taxpayers United of America (TUA), Home Rule means higher taxes.
“I like to call it ‘Home Ruin’”, said Jim Tobin, president of TUA. “Why would anyone want to give up their right to vote on property tax increases?”
“Home Rule always means higher taxes because it removes the cap that limits the amount that bureaucrats can increase property taxes. It gives bureaucrats a blank check and how many government bureaucrats would you trust with a blank check bearing your signature?”
“Home Rule also gives local government authority to tax nearly any product or service they want. What they don’t tell you is that such taxation drives consumers to neighboring communities where the taxes on products and services is lower.”
“And if high taxation isn’t enough, Home Rule is used extensively to add regulations, fees, and licensing that create even more red tape for business and entrepreneurs.”
“We are helping taxpayers in each of these communities by revealing the truth about home rule and how damaging it is. We are working with local activists and organizations to educate voters on Home Rule.”
“Government needs to live within its means and cut spending when revenue declines. Eighty percent of Home Rule and other local taxes go to pay government employees and their benefits. By adding new taxes, government bureaucrats ensure their own high pay and lavish pensions.”
“Illinois currently has more than 11,054 annual state pensions over $100,000 and more than 78,526 government pensions over $50,000 a year. It is mathematically impossible to raise enough taxes to sustain the defunct state pension system and yet every unit of government continues to try.”
“Illinois has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country and you have to wonder how many people could have stayed in their homes if the property taxes weren’t so high – the second highest property taxes in the country.”
“We are urging voters in these 5 communities to retain their right to vote on property tax increases by voting no on Home Rule on November 4, 2014.”
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Chicago—Today, Tax Accountability (TA), the political action arm of Taxpayers United of America (TUA), announced its Illinois candidate endorsements for the November 4, 2014 general election.
“This is an important time to elect lawmakers at all levels of government, who promise to vote against any and all tax increases,” said Jim Tobin, president of TA and TUA.
“I urge voters to support these individuals who have indicated their intent to spend taxpayer money responsibly and have signed our Taxpayer Protection Pledge in which they vow to reduce the total tax burden of Illinois’ tax-abused constituents. TA will not endorse any candidate that does not sign our pledge.”
“Candidates like Julie Fox, who exemplify the principals and standards of TA need to be recognized for their long history of tax fighting activism. Julie will make an excellent Comptroller because she is a CPA who has the experience required to do the job and experience in standing up for taxpayers and fighting to reduce taxes.”
“Please click on the links below to find out more about each one of these candidates. Consider making a donation to the candidates personally and most of all, vote for them on November 4, 2014 to help put Illinois back on track.”
U.S. Senate
· Jim Oberweis
U.S. House of Representatives
· Eric M. Wallace, IL District 2
· Sharon M. Brannigan, IL District 3
Illinois State
· Julie Fox, Comptroller
· Ben Koyl, Attorney General
· Matthew Skopek, Treasurer of State
Illinois State House
· Denis Detzel, District 14
· Kathy Myalls, District 17
· Bill Grossi, District 57
· Mark Neerhof, District 58
· Steve Reick, District 63
· Joe Sosnowski, District 69
· Jerry Long, District 76
· Glenn Nixon, District 79
· Diane Harris, District 86
· Brian Stewart, District 89
· Yvonne Bolton, District 98
Illinois State Senate
· Stefanie Linares, District 6
· Kyle McMarter, District 54
TUA’s work fighting home rule was mentioned in a letter-to-the-editor to the Southern.
To the Editor:
West Frankfort, please don’t make the same mistake the people of Mount Vernon made. Don’t choose to be over taxed and over regulated by a handful of people on your city council. Take back you right to vote on local taxes and ordinances. Take back state tax caps on property tax increases. Follow the lead of Harrisburg, Anna, Westmont, Rockford and Kenilworth. These towns stopped their city council members from running a-muck, by stopping Home-Rule.
Jim Tobin, of Taxpayers United of America (TUA), and Robert S. Redfern of near by Fairfield, have been fighting Home-Rule for decades. Tobin has said many times that Home-Rule is one of the most financially disturbing schemes Illinois politicians have ever come up with. Home-Rule literally, gives a town unlimited taxing powers.
In 2012 the Illinois Association of Realtors and RVOICE worked to stop Home-Rule because it can lead to new inspection fees, and transaction fees on real estate; and hig! her property taxes, leading to more regulations, and red tape for their realtors, all without voter approval. As someone living under Home-Rule, and seeing tax increases and wasteful sending in my town of Mount Vernon, I would urge you to not make the same mistake the uninformed voters of Mount Vernon did in not taking the time or did not care about democracy and their right be heard. West Frankfort this may be your only chance to stop the madness of out of control government, Vote to END Home-Rule this Nov. 4.
Steven Casper Sr.
Mount Vernon
